Sloping sink top combination



March 10, 1953 B. w. SCHWINDT 2,630,580

SLOPING SINK TOP COMBINATION Filed July 1 1950 INVENTOR.

flan/aim KJaa/iudf BY m Patented Mar. 10, 1953 U N I T ED 5 TAT ES PATENT OFFICE SLOPING SINK TOPCOMBINATION Benjamin W. Schwindt, Freeport, NJC.

ApplicationJuly 1, 1950; Serial'-No. 171,632

1 Cla m- 1.

This invention relates to combination sinks and; more particularly, to combination sinks having an integrated sink Well and drainboard surface.

In combination sinks having a sink we1lsurrounded by a drainboard-made up of afiat base material covered by a surface layer applied: to the fiat base material, the deck surface-of the drainboard heretofore has been flat. The. reason for making the deck surface flat has beenthat a metal trim is clamped around the edge oi the drainboar-d to cover the joint between the surface layer and the base material. This trim can only beapplied in straight, uncurved strips as it is not practicable to shape it to follow anything but a straight line. Consequently, the drainboards havenot been sloped to provide drainage toward the sink well.

It is an object of this invention to. provide. a washing unit madeup of a sink Welland a surrounding deck surface composed of layers of material, which deck surface slopes toward. the sink well.

This purpose will become: more apparent upon. consideration of the. following. description taken, together with; the accompanying; drawings in.which.:.

E e. 1:. hows a er pect e w a in an unitdrain oard Fig, 2 is. a front section of half of the sink. and drainboard unit, shown in Fig, 1; taken. on line 2-2-in the, direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3- is. a lateral section of part of the sink and drainboard unit shown in Fig, 1, takenonline 3-3 in the direction of the arrows; and.

Fig. 4 is a detailed lateral section of the edge of the drainboard of the unit shown in Fig 1 I taken on line 44 in the direction of the arrows.

In Fig, 1, a kitchen unit is shown having a sink well ll surrounded by a drainboard l2. Behind the sink Well' H and rising perpendicularly from the drainboard l2, a splashboard l3provides a back to the kitchenunit. In a narrow strip of the drainboard t2 between the sink well" It and the splashboard it, are positioned a pair of handles M and a spout l5. A metal trim l6 extends around the side and front edges of the drainboard IZ-andup the side edges of the splashboard 13 and across thetop of the spl'ashboard l3 to provide a continuousmetal edging on the exposed edges of the kitchen unit In. The drainboard surface is divided into two horizontal side sink surfaces, I! on each sideof two intermediate sloping surfaces [8 betweenwhich lies a fiatcens tral portion [9 in a lower horizontal plane than the surfaces I 1-. The. sloping. surfac s: l amus horizontal central surface; [9 form; a depression 2!! in. thedeck. surface of. the drain qalt' li s. 1. the center of: this. depression 20 the sink welh 1;! is. sunk into the horizontal surface I9,

Asshown in Fig. 2, thed-rainboard l; 2 ismade up of a base strip.v Zlgenerally composed of; a plywood or metal material, Laid on the, upper surface of this base; 2|, a, surface sheet, 22: is composed; either of linoleum, stainless; steel, plastic material. or thermoset; plastic; laminate. The sheet 22v is veneeredtot he plywood to form a single piece which remains: one. pieeelthroughout; the manufacturing: process, The, base,- layer 21' and'ythe, veneer sheet; 22, fastened; together to form. a. single piece,v are shaped; with a 13 double curvatures. which provide, the; sloping surfaces; 18 between. he. two side surfaces 1 an the central: surface l9 One; ofthese double curvatures shown in Fig, 2' and the two curves making: up this double. curvature. are identified by the bracketedareas 23 and; 2.4. Thebracketed area. 23. delineates; the lower curved; area. This double. curvature; causes the horizontal surfaces H. and; I9; to, lie indifferent horizontal.- planes with; the sloping: surface [8; connectin thatwo planes;

Asseen. inFig, l the metal trim It extends around the; edge. of the ;unit, I0. Referring to Fig. 3, the drainboard I2: is. shown tobe termiated; atits side; a verticalwallli forming the Outer edge of both the baselayer- 2| anditssurface sheet 22. This vertical wall 25 has an upper edge 26 and a lower, edge 21 which with the wall 25 form the periphery of the drainboard l2. The metal trim Hi as shownin Fig. 3 is made up in a channel shape having ayertical central section 28 and two laterally extending horizontal upper and lower flanges 29 and 30; respectively. Ijhe upper flange 29 is not perfectly horizontal throughout its entire width but has a downward bend on the inner or. free end. A welt His contained beneath the flange 29 as shown in Figs. 3 and, 4. This welt 43 is held in by a downward extending lip 44 formed'by the. above mentioned bend ofthe. flange 29-; The vertical central section 28 abuts and covers the vertical wall-25-while the flanges 29 and 30; being part of the metal trim l6, run completely around the unit III with the upper flange 29 lying on top of the drainboard I2; and the lower flange 30 underlying the base layer 2'1. The vertical central section 28 is of sufiicient height, and the horizontal flanges 29 and; ar w de eno h. ap rt to ac m a the curvatures of the drainboardt2 within the front of the depression 26.

straight uncurved structure of the metal trim I6. Across the front of the unit I6 the vertical wall is curved coincidental with the curvatures of the drainboard I2. As the edges 26 and 21 extend transversely across the front of the drainboard I2 following the curvature thereof described above, these edges are also curved. The vertical wall 25 and edges 26 and 21 thus curved lie within the flanges 29 and 36.

Referring to Fig. 2, the effect of the curves 23 and 24 in the drainboard I2 are shown upon that section of the edges 26 and 21 seen therein. The curves 23 and 24 of the drainboard I2 divide the top surface of the drainboard into the horizontal plane surfaces I1 and I9 and the medial plane surface I8. The curves 23 and 24 also divide each of the transverse extending edges 26 and 21 into three segments, and each of these segments correspond with one of the three surfaces I1, I8 and I9. In the portion of the unit I6 shown in Fig. 2, the edge 26 is divided into an upper segment 31 defining the edge of the plane surface I1, a medial egment 32 defining the edge of the sloping surface I8, and a lower segment 33 defining the edge of the horizontal plane surface I9. These segments are indicated by brackets. Oorrespondingly, the lower edge 21 is divided into segments 34, 35 and 36, correlated to the surfaces I1, I8 and I9, respectively. Because of the disconformity between the horizontal surfaces I1 and I9, there is a discontinuity between segments 31 and 33 and between segments 34 and 36. As the flanges 29 and 36 are straight or horizontal with relation to the unit I6, they do not follow this discontinuity in the edges 26 and 21. Consequently, in embracing the vertical peripheral wall 25 of the drainboard I2, these horizontal flanges 29 and 36 are spaced away from their respective edges 26 and 21 along some part of the periphcry of the drain board I2. In the case of the upper flange 29, this separation from the upper edge 26 occurs across the center of the front of the drainboard I2 as partially shown in Fig. 2. In the case of the lower flange 36, this disconformity occurs at the sides of the front of the drainboard I2 and along the sides of the drainboard I2. This spacing of the flanges 29 and 36 away from the edges 26 and 21 of drainboard I2 is accommodated by applicants invention.

An elongated bar 31 is positioned across the As shown in Fig. 3, this bar 31 fits beneath the flange 29 and the surface I9. A wall 38 of the bar 31 is even with the inner end of the flange 29 to provide a flush inner surface. The combination of the elongated bar 31 and the coterminous flange 29 forms a rail 39 extending across the front of the unit I6 and more particularly the depression 26. The bar 31 may be shaped at each end to match the sloping surfaces I8 or it may be countersunk into the sloping surfaces I8.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, a pier 46 is supported on the flange 36 in the space beneath the base layer 21 between the flange 36 and the lower edge 21. This pier 46 is built up to form a footing supporting the drainboard I2 and it is made to have a contour fitting the underside of the drainboard I2 or it may be countersunk into the-sloping surfaces I8 and horizontal surface I9. A sloping surface 42 may be provided at one end of the pier 46 to fit the underside of the base layer 2| in the area of the slopi surf;ace I6. The pier 46 is thus made up of filler strips 41 to be wedge-like in shape and sup ported on the flange 36 provides a structural piece of contiguity with the portion of the drainboard I2 which does not rest upon the flange 36. Thus the section of the drainboard I2 which curves up and away from the lower central section of the drainboard I2 is held structurally secure with relation to the drainboard I2 as a whole. An identical pier is provided on the other side of the kitchen unit not shown. The piers are inserted between the flange 36 and that part of the drainboard which is raised so that a strong structural unit is achieved. In efiect, the piers 46 based on the flange 36 and in supporting Contact with the raised portion of the drainboard I2 brace the various sections of the drainboard with relation to each other so as to prevent disfiguring warpage.

The metal trim I6 is, in effect, clamped over the edge of the drainboard I2. The piers 46 and the elongated bars 31 are inserted within the enclosing flanges 29 and 36 of the trim I6. Thus, enclosed piers 46 and bar 31 are structural units serving to brace the curved drainboard I2 within the metal trim I6. The drainboard I2 thus braced is held in position and shape by the surfaces of the bar and piers which bear upon it.

As shown in Fig. 3, the elongated bar 31 may be made up of a hollow member. The elongated bar 31 may also be made of solid material or laminated material. The wall 21 may be either vertical or be modified to provide an inward sliding or curved surface on the inside of the rail 28. The elongated bar 31 is preferably countersunk into the sloping surf-ace I6, but is shown in Fig. 2 in a modified structure conforming to the surface I8 for the purpose of simplicity in the drawings.

Applicant by his invention provides a drainboard in a combination kitchen unit which has inwardly sloping surfaces as well as all the other features and components of a combination unit. The bond between the surface material and the base material is protected by a straight strip of metal trim. The metal trim is of the simplest structure to prevent expensive forming and, at the same time, a, conformity is obtained between the curved drainboard and the straight trim to provide an adequate and acceptable finished structure having a. combination of desirable features. Applicant also provides a peripheral rail around the sink well depression in the top of the drainboard I2. This rail serves as a water retaining barrier and prevents the splashing of water within depression 26 from running off the drainboard I2.

A further advantage of the sink top combination of this invention arises from the use of such sink tops in combination with kitchen cabinets. The kitchen cabinet are of a standard construction having straight horizontal top surfaces. By means of this invention, it is possible to provide a sink top combination having a sloping surface on a surface which changes in horizontal plane without alteration of the cabinets. This is partlcularly advantageous in sink combinations with metal cabinets as the metal cabinets have frames or reinforcing sections in stock sizes and cannot be readily altered to fit a sink top which has other than a level horizontal surface.

It will be apparent from the above description that the structure embodied in the drawings and described above is for the purpose of illustration and various modifications therein may be made Without departing from the spirit of the confirmation which is defined in scope by the following claim.

I claim:

In a combined sink and drainboard unit, the combination of a sink well having an upper edge intersecting a horizontal plane, a drainboard contiguous with said sink well and extending laterally therefrom adjacent said upper edge, a base layer forming the main body of said drainboard, a sheet adhered on said base layer forming a top layer on said drainboard, a surface of said drainboard formed on said sheet, a first portion of said drainboard adjacent said sink well with its upper surface substantially parallel to said horizontal plane of said sink Well upper edge, a second portion of said drainboard raised above said first portion with its upper surface substantially parallel to and raised above said horizontal plane of said sink well edge, a sloping central portion of said drainboard intermediate and adjoining said first and second portions with its surface contiguous with the surfaces of said first and second portions whereby said surface of said drainboard is continuous throughout said first, central and second portions. a peripheral edge of said drainboard and said base and top layers, an under surface of said drainboard having a contour the reverse of the contour of said top surface of said drainboard, a straight strip mounted on said peripheral edge, a first horizontal fiange of said strip overlying said peripheral edge and the top surface of said drainboard and contiguous with the upper surface of said second portion of said drainboard, a second horizontal flange underlying the under surface of said drainboard and contiguous with the under surface of said first portion of said drainboard, a pier positioned on said second horizontal flange and braced against the under surfaces of said central and second portions of said drainboard and a bar seating on the upper surfaces of said first and central portions of said drainboard and braced against said first horizontal flange whereby said base layer and top layer of said drainboard are braced together by said flanges, the bar and the pier so that aid bar and said pier prevent separation of said layers and provide said horizontal flanges with a. continuous abutment against a surface which is parallel to the upper edge of the sink well.

BENJAMIN W. SCHWINDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,057,405 Webber Oct. 13, 1936 2,157,785 Coordes May 9, 1939 2,298,578 Madsen Oct. 1 3, 1942 2,472,685 Scharmer June 7, 1949 

